BoxRec

I think Nathan Cleverly deserves his own topic. I've just watched his fight against McIntosh, as I was watching the Sky bill earlier. He's coming along very well. I doubted him when he had so few KOs on his record, but now he seems to punch much harder I'm really becoming a fan.

The current champions at light heavyweight are:
WBC - Jean Pascal
IBF - Vacant
WBO - Zsolt Erdei
WBA - Gabriel Campillo

Cleverly was 10th in the IBF rankings prior to this fight. Cloud and Woods are duking it out for the title.
Cleverly was 14th in the WBA rankings prior to this fight. They haven't been updated since May though.

Light heavyweight is quite weak at the moment so I think Cleverly could pick up a title in the next year or two. What do you think of Cleverly?

I take my hat off to the lad, I questioned his power and thought he was in with bums recently, but his power is really coming on, the body shots are wicked and I think he can defo go to world level and be a threat, I'd give him another couple of years.

At the mo he seems a little hot-headed and once he can control that and mature a little I think he will be ready for world level. Sometimes he will have to step back and not try to out-macho everyone cos he will eventually meet someone who can bomb him out of there at world level.

He is a very good fighter and will win a World title, unless he is mandatory for the WBO , Erdei and Universium aren't going to fight him.

They are ridiculous rankings........way too high

I think that we can only judge Cleverley once he fights a good fighter, with some experience and credability behind him. He has'nt fought anybody as yet, which is the case for all the up and coming young fighter's in Britain, ie, Fury, Saunders, Jeffries, DeGale, Gavin etc etc

Quixall wrote:They are ridiculous rankings........way too high

I think that we can only judge Cleverley once he fights a good fighter, with some experience and credability behind him. He has'nt fought anybody as yet, which is the case for all the up and coming young fighter's in Britain, ie, Fury, Saunders, Jeffries, DeGale, Gavin etc etc

Cleverly has been a pro for longer than the guys above, and is further along. He is 2nd only to Clinton Woods at light heavyweight in the Boxrec British rankings. He has beaten number 3 (McIntosh) and number 4 (Oakey).

Asterix wrote:

Quixall wrote:They are ridiculous rankings........way too high

I think that we can only judge Cleverley once he fights a good fighter, with some experience and credability behind him. He has'nt fought anybody as yet, which is the case for all the up and coming young fighter's in Britain, ie, Fury, Saunders, Jeffries, DeGale, Gavin etc etc

Cleverly has been a pro for longer than the guys above, and is further along. He is 2nd only to Clinton Woods at light heavyweight in the Boxrec British rankings. He has beaten number 3 (McIntosh) and number 4 (Oakey).

True, but the gulf between the British ranking and the reality of operating at world level are masive. Can you imagine Cleverley taking on a Woods, Tarver, Dawson or even Hopkins or Jones at light-heavy ??

He would get murdered !!

So whilst a position of number two to Woods in the British rankings sounds good and looks impressive on paper, it doesn't then mean that he is only one step down from Clinton and can operate at world level. He has a good future and is developing well, but those rankings at world level are miss-leading, because he simply isn't ready to fight a top ten guy, which is what thoes rankings are suggesting

Yeah, my point was that Cleverly is further along than the guys you mentioned, nothing more. He's at the point where he can have International fighters brought in to progress him in order to get ready for a title shot (in the next 1-3 years, depending on progress). But I guess he will want to defend the British title a few times first?

Yeah, tonight I'd say that Cleverly, Khan, Small and Brook really proved they can "walk the walk" .

whicker wrote:Yeah, tonight I'd say that Cleverly, Khan, Small and Brook really proved they can "walk the walk" .

Cleverley fought a limited guy that was way out of his depth. He will turn into a good fighter, but that can't be judged on tonight's fight. Small will not operate at world level IMO. Brook looks a great prospect and i have high hopes for him.

Cleverly seems a good kid, decent prospect, but thats what he is atm, a prosopect. He is with FW atm, so dont expect too much from him, for now.

The difference between Cleverly and say Enzo Mac, is that Cleverly is naturally talented and tough enough when FW makes his usual pigs-ear and matches him with tough fighter. The kid can tough it out.

Best thing for his development is to move away from FW, but that wont happen. Even so, still a good fighter, not there yet though.

Cleverly has potential to have success at the world class level. The division is weak, and the top dogs are already up there in age. I would like to see him step up and fight a Euro level guy, it would give us a better idea of where he is really at. Times on his side though

I think he is looking like a tremendous prospect. I would not be surprised if he got a Euro title shot this year, and a world shot within a year.

He looks excellent in technique, intent, heart and mind.

22 years old!!
He's impressed me so far. Last nights fight reminded me of the Calzaghe v Mark Delaney match.
It was the time i thought that yes Joe can actually get mixed up in a brawl and win. Same with Nathan last night

yeah he showed hes got the stomach for war, a bit of dog in him!!!!

He does everthing well. the fundamentals, bodypunching, bit of speed/power.

i thought his poise and maturity were impressive.

He is a very good boxer and a up for a fight I think he will go on to win world titles a fight

stevieb_8006 wrote:yeah he showed hes got the stomach for war, a bit of dog in him!!!!

He does everthing well. the fundamentals, bodypunching, bit of speed/power.

i thought his poise and maturity were impressive.

Couldn't agree more. He really impressed me last night on a number of levels. Also think Mackintosh deserves some credit for his bravery during the fight and for the class he displayed during his post-fight interview.

TheCobra wrote:I take my hat off to the lad, I questioned his power and thought he was in with bums recently, but his power is really coming on, the body shots are wicked and I think he can defo go to world level and be a threat, I'd give him another couple of years.

At the mo he seems a little hot-headed and once he can control that and mature a little I think he will be ready for world level. Sometimes he will have to step back and not try to out-macho everyone cos he will eventually meet someone who can bomb him out of there at world level.

My thoughts exactly, I'd like to see him hook up with a top level trainer now though (no disrespect to his father) Before he gets bombed out at world level.

Deserter wrote:Couldn't agree more. He really impressed me last night on a number of levels. Also think Mackintosh deserves some credit for his bravery during the fight and for the class he displayed during his post-fight interview.

X2 He's gone up in my estimation after his post-fight interview. Used to think he was a bit of a tit the way he went on, but fair-dos, top man

Cleverly is very impressive who should he fight next?

leforge wrote:Cleverly is very impressive who should he fight next?

EBU title is held by Juergen Braehmer, who is a toughman and would need paying well to come out of Germany to fight here.
Maybe to much of a risk at this moment for Cleverly, i'm sure he'd be willing to take on Braehmer, but not so sure his management would want the fight.

There are not alot of names on the europeon circuit that mean to much on the world scene, and it will be hard trying to sell British title defenses, as his already beaten Oakey and McIntosh. The rest of the lightheavys in the UK are a bit behind these guys.

You know on FNF i saw Chris Henry beat Shaun George, and he looked tough but beatable. That wouldn't be a bad match against a rated fighter for Cleverly.

very promising. has shown improved technique and power in weak fights, and then took a riskier fight and dominated.

Old bones Ian wrote:

leforge wrote:Cleverly is very impressive who should he fight next?

EBU title is held by Juergen Braehmer, who is a toughman and would need paying well to come out of Germany to fight here.
Maybe to much of a risk at this moment for Cleverly, i'm sure he'd be willing to take on Braehmer, but not so sure his management would want the fight.

There are not alot of names on the europeon circuit that mean to much on the world scene, and it will be hard trying to sell British title defenses, as his already beaten Oakey and McIntosh. The rest of the lightheavys in the UK are a bit behind these guys.

You know on FNF i saw Chris Henry beat Shaun George, and he looked tough but beatable. That wouldn't be a bad match against a rated fighter for Cleverly.

That would be a tough fight for Cleverly Im not sure he would win that 1 at the moment he's only 22 I think Castle would be the better fight atm

Should fight Oakay again, but this time, give him more than 2/3 weeks prep time.

Dioufy wrote:Should fight Oakay again, but this time, give him more than 2/3 weeks prep time.

Thats a FW trait :)

bengulnaci1 wrote:

Dioufy wrote:Should fight Oakay again, but this time, give him more than 2/3 weeks prep time.

Thats a FW trait :)

That's why that win is slightly tainted for me.

Quixall wrote:

Asterix wrote:

Quixall wrote:They are ridiculous rankings........way too high

I think that we can only judge Cleverley once he fights a good fighter, with some experience and credability behind him. He has'nt fought anybody as yet, which is the case for all the up and coming young fighter's in Britain, ie, Fury, Saunders, Jeffries, DeGale, Gavin etc etc

Cleverly has been a pro for longer than the guys above, and is further along. He is 2nd only to Clinton Woods at light heavyweight in the Boxrec British rankings. He has beaten number 3 (McIntosh) and number 4 (Oakey).

True, but the gulf between the British ranking and the reality of operating at world level are masive. Can you imagine Cleverley taking on a Woods, Tarver, Dawson or even Hopkins or Jones at light-heavy ??

He would get murdered !!

So whilst a position of number two to Woods in the British rankings sounds good and looks impressive on paper, it doesn't then mean that he is only one step down from Clinton and can operate at world level. He has a good future and is developing well, but those rankings at world level are miss-leading, because he simply isn't ready to fight a top ten guy, which is what thoes rankings are suggesting

I don't think he'd get murdered by any of them, bar heavyweight it's probably the weakest division.

Tarver is overrated and past his best, I think Cleverly would easily outpoint him.

He'd give Johnson and Dawson a good go, and I think he'd beat Woods as well at this stage. He is a terrific fighter.

Hopkins would school him, but let's not make out the quintet you mentioned are superheroes. Barring Hopkins and Dawson they've been pretty average of late, at best.